Archive for October, 2010

Ellie Walters is determined to get back on her feet after the break-up of her marriage. Now living on Cape Cod with her increasingly angry and troubled teenage son, Tim, she tentatively believes they can build a new life together. And when Ellie finds herself falling for her new neighbour’s son, Joe, she feels she can at last move on. Until, one day, elements connected to a tragic event in Ellie’s past – an event she has never been able to come to terms with – start appearing.

It seems that someone is determined to make her suffer, all over again. Whilst a misunderstanding drives a rift between her and Joe and her relationship with Tim threatens to deteriorate completely, a confused and frightened Ellie seems powerless to stop what seems increasingly like a terrifying campaign of persecution. And Ellie is faced with the horrifying possibility that she’ll be trapped in this nightmare for ever…

(more…)

Chick Lit Classics is a regular feature on Chick Lit Reviews where we highlight the books we feel are classics of the chick lit genre. Feel free to discuss our choices in the comments section!

This week I’ve chosen Matt Dunn’s fantastic second novel The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook for our Chick Lit Classic. This was the first Matt Dunn book that I have read and I absolutely loved it. It made me laugh, and I loved the fact it was told from a male perspective, something that’s all too rare in Chick Lit. Edward is one of my favourite male characters and along with best friend Dan they make quite a pair! There’s also a sequel out called Ex-Girlfriends United and a third book, The Accidental Proposal, is out in 2011!

“It’s not me - it’s you. You’ve let yourself go, so I’m letting you go too.” When Edward Middleton hears those words from Jane, his girlfriend of the past ten years, he knows he’s in serious trouble. Determined to get her back, Edward must learn how to make women fancy him again. But what makes for a good boyfriend nowadays? Right now, he’s the kind of man who puts the ‘ex’ into ‘sexy’. One thing is certain: if he’s to be Jane’s Mr Right, he needs to turn himself into a bit of all right. From Atkins and Botox, Edward begins working his way through the makeover alphabet. But can cuddly Teddy really become sexy Eddie? Can he rise from the ranks of discarded exes? Or has his journey of self-discovery taken him in a different direction entirely?

Fans of Cecelia Ahern, pay attention! Cecelia has a short story collection out now (it was released on October 14th) but it’s only available as an e-book or audio book. The “book” contains 9 short stories, all of which have been published in magazines or newspapers, but they have now been brought together for the first time. The e-book is only compatible with iPod touch, iPhone or iPad but if you have one of these devices, it sounds like a great short story collection to get hold of! You can purchase it from the Harper Collins site or iTunes.

“As the smell of pinecones and cinnamon fill the air and the plump turkey roasts in the oven, the final preparations for Christmas day have begun just as they do every year.

The tree lights are twinkling and the mince pies are cooked and there is just one final tradition to carry out before the Christmas magic can begin. This year though, something is different and it’s time for life-long traditions to change.

For years the family has followed the same pattern, not changing their routine through the generations; babies have grown into teens and then adults, and then eventually have had children of their own, but one thing always remained constant throughout…

Time has finally caught up with the family and this year the new traditions must be formed.”

Michaela Anderson isn’t really a risk taker, but when her company organises a charity parachute jump, she can’t really refuse. When she gets up in the skies, she doesn’t want to jump but after everyone else seems to safely make it down, Michaela decides to take the plunge. But as she plummets back to Earth, a huge gust of wind takes Michaela by surprise. She lands with a bump and is a bit unsure why everything around her seems to have changed. The airfield has disappeared and there’s no sign of her colleagues anywhere, or Matt, her instructor. More oddly, when Michaela makes contact with Matt and her boyfriend, it seems she has been missing for over 6 years and everyone thought she was dead. Just what happened to Michaela when she made that jump, and where have the past 6 years been? Is it magical forces at work or something more sinister?

(more…)

Heaven, Hell and Mademoiselle by Harold Carlton was released earlier this year and the paperback for the book is out in March 2011 and has a brand new cover to go with it. The new cover is on the right, and the old cover is on the left. Question is, which do you prefer?

Paris, 1968. Four young hopefuls are following their dreams, making their way in the ruthless world of haute couture. Seamstress Monique, standing with her tatty suitcase in hand, watches shop assistants spray Chanel No. 5 in the street outside Coco’s world-famous store. Can all her dreams come true in this magical place? Christopher, London born and bred, the handsome up-and-coming designer is determined to leave his mark on the city where glamour and power go hand in hand and every man has a mistress. Samantha, the daddy’s girl with an uncanny eye for PR, understands what sells- sex, sex and more sex. But can a loud, brash American ever conquer the sophisticated wives of Paris? And hauntingly beautiful Sophie, the top model with her face in a thousand magazines and the world at her feet, has a secret in her past that won’t stay buried…

Arrow editor Gillian Holmes has acquired school-set fiction title The Playgroup by Janie Fraser.

Holmes bought world English language rights through agency director Teresa Chris in a two-book deal.

Holmes said: “The Playgroup is a warm, funny and romantic story with such brilliant characters that I was drawn into the fictional world of the school from the first line. Janie writes with humour and sympathy about the issues facing everyone as they struggle with little ones, but what drew me most was the hilarious and heart-wrenching portrayal of the under-fives together with the lives and loves of the adults who look after them.”

Arrow will publish The Playgroup as a paperback original in September 2011.

(Taken from the Bookseller.)

This one sounds like a great one, and one I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for!

Chick Flick Tuesday highlights the best chick flicks in the movie world as well as bringing you news on upcoming chick flick releases as well as letting you all know about which chick lit books are being made into chick flick movies!

Today’s pick for Chick Flick Tuesday comes from one of my favorite film directors of all time, Baz Luhrmann. Moulin Rouge as well as many others of Luhrmann’s including Strictly Ballroom and Romeo and Juliet are some of mine and my sister’s favorite movies. Moulin Rouge in particular is one I remember singing along with constantly. Featuring music such as “Nature Boy” orginially sung by Nat King Cole, the film not only is beautiful in it’s image and story, but the soundtrack as well. It’s the story of a boy, Christian played by Ewan McGregor, in search of love, in all it’s beauty and truth. When he happens upon the most beautiful girl, a courtesan, Satine played by Nicole Kidman, with a tragic secret. Set at the height of the Bohemian movement, in Paris, nothing is more beautiful than the love they have for one another, no matter how unfortunate their destinies. Their love and tragic tale make this a truly spectacular film, not to be missed.

“A spectacle beyond anything you’ve ever witnessed. An experience beyond everything you’ve ever imagined. Behind the red velvet curtain, the ultimate seduction of your senses is about to begin. Welcome to the Moulin Rouge! Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor sing, dance and scale the heights of passionate abandon in the year’s most talked-about movie from visionary director Baz Luhrmann (William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Strictly Ballroom). Enter a tantalizing world that celebrates truth, beauty, freedom and above all things, love.”

I probably should have made this post slightly sooner, but the lovely chick lit authors Milly Johnson is currently appearing on this week’s editions of hilarious cookery show Come Dine With Me! Milly is the author of such brilliant books as A Spring Affair and The Yorkshire Pudding Club so if you’re a huge Milly fan like me, it’s definitely one to tune into, and Milly is just as nice as I imagined her to be!

Come Dine With Me is on Channel 4 at 5pm all this week, and Milly’s cooking episode will be shown on Thursday 21st October! Good luck Milly, hope you win!!